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Legionella Risk in Gyms

Coverage Across The UK | Gyms | Meet HSE Compliance

Legionella Risk In Gyms

 

All gyms have a legal duty to ensure the health and safety of their members and staff. This includes regular cleaning of the workout areas, showers, changing rooms and gym equipment, as well as maintenance of equipment, buildings, plant and machinery. It is a requirement that managers undertake regular risk assessments to ensure staff and members are protected against a wide range of hazards. 

When it comes to the legionella bacteria, special care must be taken with humidity and recirculated air because of the dangers from stagnant water. Air conditioning and shower facilities are of particular concern in gyms, and if your gym also has a pool and steam room, you also need to take precautions.

Staff education and training

It is important to educate and regularly update all members of staff about the risks from the legionella bacteria, so they understand why they need to thoroughly clean the showers and changing rooms where damp and puddles are likely to accumulate. Broken showers and blocked drains need to be reported and repaired straight away in order to prevent warm water from stagnating which would provide a breeding ground for the legionella bacteria.

Testing

Regular testing plays a vital role in the battle to keep your gym’s water systems safe from the legionella bacteria.

We have successfully been providing legionella management services for the past ten years and are renowned for our excellent customer service. All our engineers are City & Guilds qualified and DBS checked. We are also accredited as a Safe Contractor.

Contact us for more information or to arrange to test your gym and facilities.

What is Legionella?

 

The legionella bacteria is found in natural environments including ponds, rivers and lakes. The legionella bacteria can also be supplied in small amounts within the mains water supply. Where there are water and the conditions of creating water droplets (aerosols), people using or within the area of these services may be at risk. It is this bacteria found in the water supply which is the cause of Legionnaires disease.

Where there is a potential for legionella risk, there is an absolute need to manage and mitigate this and according to the HSE “if you are an employer, or someone in control of premises, including landlords you need to be aware of the risks that legionella poses.”

Conditions and contributing factors to legionella bacteria growth include:

  • Temperatures between 20-45°C
  • Available nutrients (including sediment, biofilm, algae, scale, rust, material, etc.)
  • Presence of biofilm on surfaces of water
  • Poor or inadequate management including training and awareness

Get in touch today to book your legionella risk assessment and reduce the likelihood of spreading the legionella bacteria.

Legionnaires disease

 

Legionnaires disease, also known as Legionellosis, is a type of pneumonia, which can potentially be fatal. Those most at risk are the elderly and the very young, male over 50’s, the ill and smokers to name a few. Legionella bacteria can also cause other, less harmful illness such as Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever, which can affect all people.

The main route of infection of legionnaires disease is through inhalation, by inhaling airborne water droplets that contain legionella bacteria. It cannot be spread from person to person and the majority of cases or outbreaks of legionnaires disease have been via domestic water services, evaporative cooling towers, and spa pools.

It is also important in residential properties to regularly assess your water systems in your property, especially where water systems have been stagnant for some time. As a tenant, if you are renting you may have been advised on legionnaires disease by your estate agent when signing the lease amongst all the paperwork, but ultimately it is a landlords’ responsibility to ensure that a legionella risk assessment is carried out on their properties. If you are a Landlord it is a legal requirement for you to ensure a legionella risk assessment is carried out on your rental properties for the health and safety of your tenants and to remove the legionella bacteria from the water systems.

Legionella Risk Assessment service provider

 

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and in compliance with the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8, HSG 274), duty holders, including employers and those in control of premises, must ensure the health and safety of their employees or others who may be affected by their undertaking, this includes the risk of Legionella. uRisk is a water hygiene service provider who carries out a full range of control measures services including an initial legionella risk assessment, any remedial works needed, legionella testing, ongoing monitoring for tasks, water tank cleaning, and even training around this troublesome bacteria. We are your one-stop-shop for all legionella safety.

During the legionella risk assessment carried out by one of our qualified and DBS checked assessors, we will undertake a complete survey of the premises for factors such as non WRAS approved fittings and poor cold water tank or hot water cylinder conditions; temperature profiling and accessibility to all areas that require monitoring and maintenance by law. As a water treatment company, we provide non-technical schematic drawings services to help identify potential risks should you not have this in place, and we will produce a comprehensive report for you outlining any risks within your water systems and any actions required to meet compliance with the HSE’s HSG 274 guidelines. Book a legionella risk assessment today to remove the risk of the legionella bacteria infecting people.

What's included in the legionella risk assessment?

You will receive a fully comprehensive assessment helping you meet compliance.

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Site Report

Details of report

Engineer Report

Notes from visit

Risk Ratings

Breakdown of risk ratings

Control and Management

Control measures checked

Survey of Assets

All assets assessed in full

Survey of Schematic

Review of current schematic

Scope of Works

Agreed works

Remedial Report

Details of works undertaken

Site Description

Site information

Water Logbook

Records checked

Survey in Detail

Risks, materials, and design assessed

Support

30 minute report walk through

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Health and Safety

Initial site safety checks

Executive Summary

Overall risk rating

Management Structure

Legionella managment

Water System Overview

Asset register

Survey Photos

Photos of entire water system

Glossary

Terminology explained

Additional fees apply for legionella samples, water logbooks and schematics. If you have had a previous legionella risk assessment you may not need these items.

Service Process

Get a Quote

Get a quote today by phone, email, or complete our contact form to receive a quotation within 24 hours.

Booking

Our coordinator will be in touch to confirm a Date That Suits You, along with estimated time of arrival.

Your Appointment

On the day of your appointment, you will receive a 30 min Curtesy Call from an engineer to confirm they're on route.

Report

Your report is then Quality Checked and emailed in PDF Format, with Next Day Delivery.

Support Call

Our support team will be in touch to arrange your free 30 min Support Call to help explain your report.

All payments are due prior to booking completion unless agreed in writing for 30 days from the date of invoice. We will hold your booking time for 24 hours whilst we await payment. Reports are typically next day delivery, but please allow for up to 5 working days delivery.

L8 Risk Assessment FAQs

When and how often do I need a risk assessment?

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and in compliance with the Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8, HSG 274), duty holders, including employers and those in control of premises, must ensure the health and safety of their employees or others who may be affected by their undertaking, this includes the risk of legionella. Legionnaires Disease is a form of pneumonia, which can be fatal and the main route of infection is through inhalation, by inhaling airborne water droplets that contain Legionella. This also applies if you are a private Landlord and have rental properties which are occupied.

This includes taking suitable precautions to prevent, manage and control the risk of exposure to legionella. You can do this by undertaking the following: a risk assessment, actioning all identified risks within the initial report with remedial works, sampling the water quality to confirm bacterial presence with water testing, and carrying out ongoing record keeping also known as monitoring.

Do I need testing, a risk assessment or both?

Legionella testing, water testing or sampling is not to be confused with a legionella risk assessment. You are required by law to undertake a legionella risk assessment under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, COSHH and a number of other regulations where you can show you are working to comply with the HSE’s HSG 274 legionella guidelines.Testing or sampling whilst not a legal requirement on it’s own, it plays an important role in determining how efficient a water system is managed. Your risk assessment may identify that sampling is required due to existing risks or as a control and management precaution. In this instance sampling then becomes a requirement from your assessment. Without an L8 risk assessment you will not know where and how many samples are required. And without water testing/sampling you cannot determine how affective your control and management is. These two actions therefore should be undertaken together, not necessarily at the same time but unison to effectively management your risk from legionella.

Water testing services include Legionella, e-Coli, total viable count (TVC), Pseudomonas, hard water, chlorine free, pH levels and more. Learn more about legionella testing. We only use UKAS approved laboratories giving you peace of mind that the test will be of the highest quality possible.

How much does an L8 risk assessment cost?

All assessments vary in prices depending on the number of water outlets, cold water storage tanks, hot water cylinders, combi boilers and other water assets that may be present. The number of assets within your water system will determine the time spent on site and how long it will take to produce your report.

So how much does it cost? Across the industry, prices vary enormously often depending on the size of the company you use and their processes, the speed of works and professionalism. There are two types of assessments, the first is commercial and the second domestic, also referred to as residential rental properties or landlord risk assessments.

Commercial risk assessments normally start from £250 to in excess of £750, however our prices start from £99 depending on the size of the water system and location.

Domestic risk assessments can range tremendously with a number of plumbers, gas engineers and other tradesmen offering these assessments without the specialist training, it’s important to check that your assessor or engineer is properly qualified. Our prices start from £55 for multiple landlord properties to £95 for single landlord properties. Our prices for residential rental properties are based on the property being no more than 5 bedrooms.

How long will the risk assessment take?

On average, the time our qualified assessor spends on site is 1 hour for every 10 outlets (sinks, showers, baths, etc). So an assessment can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 6 or 7 hours. It entirely depends on the size of your water system and the number of water assets you have such as cold water storage tanks, cylinders or combination boilers.

Our engineers will work closely with you to ensure minimal disruption to your business is caused. Clear and easy access to rooms and buildings will play a part in time spent on site at your premises.

When will I receive your findings?

You will receive your LRA report between 2-10 working days from the date the assessment was carried out. From time to time, not often, our team will need a little more time, so please expect to have your report no later than 30 days. Need your assessment sooner? Get your report, guaranteed next day delivery via email for just £50.

What happens after I receive the report?

Within your report document, you will have an action plan offering guidance which lists all identified risks, with photos, that need remedying in order of importance. By following our advice and undertaking remedial works you will reduce the risk of exposure to Legionnaires’ disease.  Once all the remedial works are complete, you will then need to focus on implementing your monitoring (periodical checks and maintenance) with a logbook for recording keeping all legal duties and monitoring requirements.

Are uRisk qualified?

Yes, all of our assessors are fully qualified and accredited by City & Guilds and can help assist you in meeting compliance today for HSE (ACoP L8). We are also Safe Contractor and Construction Online approved so you can rest assured that you are working with a trusted water hygiene service provider who put health and safety first.

All our engineers are DBS Checked to ensure suitable people are entering your premises and to safeguard vulnerable people. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards.

Do uRisk service my area?

Yes, our services are nationwide. Whether you have one or multiple water systems and one or multiple sites, we provide services across the country, with qualified engineers scattered throughout the UK and offices based in Hertfordshire which is a 30-minute train journey to London King’s Cross.

Your Dedicated Water Hygiene Team

Legionella Monitoring

Callum

Customer Service

Legionella Control

Stephen

Quality Control

water hygiene monitoring

Ed

Support

Legionella Control Services

Luke V

Business Manager

Why choose uRisk?

25 Years Experience

Over 25 years of water hygiene and legionella control experience.

Customer Service Excellence

Friendly and simple advice by phone, email & online at your convenience.

City & Guilds Qualified

All staff are trained water hygiene consultants and engineers.

Nationwide Coverage

With engineers located all across the UK, we’re never too far away.

UKAS Accredited Testing

Our labs are UKAS approved providing you with quality assurance.

Full Compliance Services

Your one stop shop for Legionella control, no need to go elsewhere.

My first time using Urisk for work at multiple sites. Daniel was absolutely brilliant, polite and professional. Highly recommended! 🙂
Claire Keay
Claire K.
Brilliant company, customer service was great! And engineers were fantastic. Thanks again uRisk! Will definitely be using them for all future work.
Nikesh Gohil
Nikesh G.
Brilliant Service, efficient, professional, punctual and friendly.
Alex Windsor
Alex W.
This is by far the best service I have received in a long time.Lloyd who we spoke to was super helpful and very thorough with everything.I would def recommend using this company, they are not just out for money they put their customers needs first.Thank you
Coral Dawkins
Coral D.
Brilliant service! Thanks a lot for the hard graft
Leon Macauley
Leon M.
Extremely happy with our legionella risk assessment carried out by uRisk, easy to understand and great customer service. Thanks again
Nickayla Robertson
Nickayla R.
Richard & Nick are great. Really good work and nice people.
Joshua Ballard
Joshua B.
My experience with URisk Water Hygiene from my initial enquiry, to their site visit to undertake a Legionella Water Risk Assessment at my office (MDG), to providing me with the report and aftercare has been superb! Efficient response times, excellent customer service, friendly, helpful advisors and assessors who are always ready to help and provide guidance. An absolute pleasure to deal with, I highly recommend!
Lauren Wakeman
Lauren W.
We're a small GP practice and started using uRisk for legionella risk assessments. We opted to use their remedial and monitoring services and they've been absolutely great. We cannot recommend them enough! Thank you so much!
Amanda Pates
Amanda P.
A fabulous company, excellent customer service, they try to accommodate appoitments, and do there utmost in emergencies, been with them a few years now,  honestly cant fault them. Coming out of Covid 19, having our building urgently disanitised,  big thank-you to Luke and Lee for staying so late to get the job done!! Thank you Devon, for juggling the diary to fit us in so soon. A Team 🙂
Jo Maskell
Jo M.
Really easy to organise a risk assessment to be carried out at our offices and have had great help from them since to implement the necessary changes to keep the office safe. Would definitely recommend.
Holly Ferguson
Holly F.
Incredibly detailed and professional team. Have been beyond helpful with with our CQC legionella compliance for our Safety. They’ve found solutions to fit around how we work and our budgets. We are always advised with reference to HSE which has been brilliant.
Amy Thorne
Amy T.
uRisk have been helping us with our Legionella Control for a number of years now. We've recently had a CQC audit and they were very impressed with our legionella compliance! Thank you for all your help.
Mike Port
Mike P.
We have been working with Urisk for best part of year now. I could not recomend their services highly enough. They always promptly respond to our requests promptly and manage the job from start to finish seamlessly. I would highly recommend.
Sam Guest
Sam G.
Daniel did the testing today at PGHC He was really efficient, friendly and so professional. An absolute pleasure to deal with. Thanks Daniel
Lorraine Carruthers
Lorraine C.
Fantastic training courses and we've found the legionella risk assessment very easy to read and far more detailed than any we have previously had. 5 star service!
Gemma Pond
Gemma P.

We want to help you comply!